Latest news with #Russian-origin
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Alternative Transbalkan gas route excludes Russian supply to Ukraine, source says
KYIV, June 4 (Reuters) - An alternative Transbalkan gas import route for Ukraine has been developed that allows for cheaper imports to Ukraine that avoid Russian-origin gas, an Ukrainian industry source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The route will be operational from June, the source said, adding it could allow Ukraine to import up to 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in the more lucrative June-October period, including 100 million cubic meters (mcm) in June. Ukraine currently imports gas via Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Formerly one of the largest importers of Russian gas, Ukraine has not been buying it since 2015 and in January, stopped the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe. Ukrainian officials have previously said that Kyiv would not allow gas purchases from a country that is at war with Ukraine. Ukraine said last month its energy regulator had approved a gas import mechanism that will avoid the high transit fees of gas supplied through the Transbalkan pipeline from Greece to Ukraine. "The planning (of gas shipping via Transbalkan pipeline) took into account the condition that natural gas can be supplied to the entry point in Greece from Greek LNG terminals or the TAP pipeline with Azerbaijani gas or reverse flow from Italy," the source said. "This minimises the possibility of transporting gas of Russian origin," he added. "All parties to the project agreed with this (the absence of Russian gas)." The daily import capacity is expected at 7 mcm of gas. "The cost of the route can compete with alternative routes for gas imports to Ukraine," he added. The Kyiv government has said Ukraine needs to import at least 4 bcm of gas for the new 2025/26 heating season while analysts and former officials estimated the imports at about 6.3 bcm.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Defence minister Rajnath Singh boards INS Vikrant, meets Indian Navy troops in Goa
Defence minister Rajnath Singh met with Indian Navy personnel aboard INS Vikrant on Friday during his visit to Goa, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. INS Vikrant is the fourth aircraft carrier operated by the Indian Navy, following the first British-origin INS Vikrant (1961–1997), INS Viraat (1987–2016), and the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya (2013–present). The carrier is named after India's first aircraft carrier. Commissioned into service two years ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, INS Vikrant was built over 13 years at a cost of ₹20,000 crore. The 45,000-tonne vessel boasts 76% indigenous content, is 262 metres long, and includes 15 decks and 2,300 compartments. It can carry up to 30 aircraft, accommodates a crew of 1,600, and has a range of 7,500 nautical miles, according to a previous report by Hindustan Times. On Thursday, Rajnath Singh lauded two Indian Navy officers for overcoming significant physical and mental challenges during their journey aboard INSV Tarini, which began on October 2, 2024. Two women officers, Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa A, successfully completed a double-handed circumnavigation of the globe, anchoring at Goa's Mormugao Port on Thursday. The feat took just over eight months. 'Yes, we made it,' said the two officers as their yacht, INSV Tarini, reached the port for the flag-in ceremony, which was attended by Rajnath Singh. Throughout their journey, the duo covered 25,400 nautical miles (around 50,000 km), crossing four continents, three oceans, and three Great Capes, while facing extreme weather conditions.
News18
26-05-2025
- Business
- News18
China Projected To Have 1,000 Nukes, Viewed As 'Primary Adversary' By India: US Report
Last Updated: According to the Defence Intelligence Agency, India views China as a "primary adversary" and its defence priorities focus on countering China and enhancing its own power. China is rapidly advancing its military modernisation and developing capabilities across all warfare domains that could enable it to seize Taiwan by force, and is expected to reach at least 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, according to a report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). As per the report, China maintains its strategic objectives to be the pre-eminent power in East Asia, challenge the United States for global leadership, unify Taiwan with mainland China, advance the development and resiliency of China's economy, and become technologically self-sufficient by mid-century. India views China as its 'primary adversary" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defence priorities are focusing on global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi's military power. According to the report, China is likely to continue multidomain pressure campaigns against Taiwan, the Philippines and others who resist Beijing's territorial claims and will keep an eye on the United States and prepare measures to deter, defeat and retaliate against any US moves that it perceives as intending to disrupt China's diplomatic, economic and security objectives. India-China Relations The US DIA report says India views China as its 'primary adversary" and is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing to counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role. India and China reached an agreement last year to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. 'The disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash along the Line of Actual Control," it said. While India has reduced procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain and sustain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and fighter aircraft that help its military to counter threats from China and Pakistan. China's Nuclear Programmes China announced a nominal 5.2% annual military budget increase to $247 billion in 2025. However, China's actual defence spending is significantly higher, following the 2024 defence spending of an estimated $304-$377 billion. China's nuclear warhead stockpile probably has surpassed 600 operational nuclear warheads. The DIA estimated that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, and the country will continue growing its force until at least 2035. 'This supports the PLA's objective to achieve a more diverse nuclear force, comprising systems including low-yield precision strike missiles and ICBMs with multi-megaton yields, to provide a broader range of nuclear response options," it said. China's approach to using nuclear force is based on the Army's 'deterrence" of an enemy first strike and 'counterstrike" against an adversary's military capability, population, and economy when deterrence fails. Its rapid modernisation suggest that it seeks the ability to inflict far greater levels of overwhelming damage. China's Growing Pressure On Taiwan China is likely to continue its campaign of diplomatic, information, military, and economic pressure on Taiwan to advance its long-term objective of unification with Taiwan, deter any move by Taiwan toward independence, and test the United States' commitment to Taiwan's defence, according to the US agency. The Chinese military has increased military pressure on Taiwan since last year, following the election of President Lai Ching-te. It possesses a variety of military options to coerce Taiwan, including increase the frequency and scope of China's military presence operations, air and maritime blockades. China insists democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Mint
26-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
India views China, not Pakistan, as ‘primary adversary', says DIA report
A new report released by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) suggested that India views China, and not Pakistan, "as its primary adversary". It said India considers "Pakistan more an ancillary security problem." Meanwhile, "Pakistan regards India as an existential threat," the report noted. The analysis was mentioned in the '2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment' report published by the DIA. DIA director Lieutenant General (Lt) Gen Jeffrey Kruse prepared this report, using information available as of May 11, 2025. Here are 10 key things to know from the report: 'India views China as its primary adversary' India sees 'Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries' 'India will maintain its relationship with Russia through 2025 because it views its ties to Russia as important for achieving its economic and defense objectives and sees value in the relationship as a means to offset deepening Russia-China relations.' The DIA report noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 'India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment but still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain and sustain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and fighter aircraft that form the backbone of its military's ability to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan.' The report said that for Pakistan, India is "an existential threat". It noted that Pakistan "will continue to pursue its military modernization effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage."
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
India views China as ‘primary adversary', Pakistan more ‘ancillary' security problem: U.S. report
India views China as its 'primary adversary' and Pakistan more an 'ancillary' security problem to be 'managed', despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries, while Pakistan regards India as an 'existential' threat, the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) said in its Worldwide Threat Assessment 2025 report. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defence priorities will probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi's military power,' the recently released report said. On Pakistan, the report said it would continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage. Pakistan was modernising its nuclear arsenal and 'almost certainly' procured WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries, it stated. Pahalgam terror attack Taking note of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and India's strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor and the military confrontation over the next three days, the U.S. DIA said that to counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India was giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing. 'India also has increased trilateral engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and actively participates in multilateral fora such as the Quadrilateral, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),' it added. On India's relations with Russia, the U.S. DIA remarked that India would maintain its relationship through 2025 because 'it views its ties to Russia as important for achieving its economic and defence objectives and sees value in the relationship as a means to offset deepening Russia-China relations.' 'Under Mr. Modi, India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment but still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain and sustain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and fighter aircraft that form the backbone of its military's ability to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan,' the report stated. India almost certainly would continue promoting its 'Made in India' initiative this year to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military, the report said. It said India continued to modernise its military in 2024 — a test of the nuclear-capable developmental Agni-I Prime Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, while also commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to strengthen its nuclear triad and 'bolster its ability' to deter adversaries. Referring to the agreement between India and China in October 2024 for disengagement from Depsang and Demchok, the report noted that the disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash along the Line of Actual Control.
